She's a match for any mobster!
Two hit men walk into a diner asking for a man called "the Swede". When the killers find the Swede, he's expecting them and doesn't put up a fight. Since the Swede had a life insurance policy, an investigator, on a hunch, decides to look into the murder. As the Swede's past is laid bare, it comes to light that he was in love with a beautiful woman who may have lured him into pulling off a bank robbery overseen by another man.
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Character
Grave, earnest, contemplative and bleak.
- gravecomic
- earnestironic
- contemplativerelentless
- warmbleak
- rawmeticulous
Who loves it, who doesn't
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Where do you stand?
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“Is this Robert Siodmak's best work?”
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“Does Burt Lancaster steal The Killers from Edmond O'Brien?”
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“Is the slow pace a feature rather than a flaw?”
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Reviews on TMDB
Written by TMDB members; each links to the original. Not part of Tastebuds's numbers.
- CinemaSerfon TMDB · Aug 20227/10
When two hit men arrive in the diner of a small town, they announce their intention to the owner of killing one of his customers - former boxer "the Swede" (Burt Lancaster). He manages to convince them that he would not be coming in that night, and so they leave to track him down. His friend, who was tied up in the diner rushes to warn him, but he does nothing - he invites the fate that we see, right from the beginning of the film. Why though? Why didn't he run? It transpires that he had a modest life insurance policy and so investigator "Reardon" (Edmond O'Brien) tries to track down the beneficiary and piece together a story of robbery, betrayal and duplicity - to all of which the character of "Kitty" (Ava Gardner) proves central. This is a superior film noir, with Lancaster and O'Brien on great form as the flashbacks gradually fill in the gaps and with the help of "Lt. Lubinsky" (Sam Levene) they discover what truly happened. Ava Gardner's character features quite sparingly, but potently when she is on screen - manipulating and twisting as she manoeuvres the men around her with consummate skill. The pace is measured, the story takes it's time to develop and that helps make this q
Read the whole review on TMDB - griggs79on TMDB · Nov 20246/10
Robert Siodmak’s _The Killers_ intrigues more than it excites. Each scene is steeped in a rich atmosphere, with tension simmering under the surface. Siodmak’s non-linear storytelling leads you through a maze of betrayal and mystery, making it a slow-burn puzzle rather than a thrill ride. It’s a film that keeps you engaged with its moody shadows and complex web of lies, even if it didn’t thoroughly sweep me off my feet.
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Cast
- Edmond O'BrienJim Reardon
- Burt Lancaster'Swede' Andersen
- Ava GardnerKitty Collins
- Albert DekkerBig Jim Colfax
- Sam LeveneLt. Sam Lubinsky
- Vince BarnettCharleston
- Virginia ChristineLilly Harmon Lubinsky
- Jack Lambert'Dum-Dum' Clarke
- Charles D. BrownPacky Robinson - Ole's Manager
- Donald MacBrideR.S. Kenyon
Crew
- Robert SiodmakDirector
- Anthony VeillerScreenplay
- Richard BrooksWriter
- John HustonWriter
- Ernest HemingwayNovel
- Elwood BredellDirector of Photography
- Miklós RózsaOriginal Music Composer
- Arthur HiltonEditor
- Mark HellingerProducer
Where to watch
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Pairings
Companions we picked from the closest works, and how to take them.
Similar in taste
Closest on the same fourteen dimensions, from everything scored on Tastebuds Other media included when they land close.
The Testament of Dr. Mabuse 193376% alikeBoth grave, earnest.
Garden of Evil 195473% alikeBoth grave, earnest.
The Shooting 196672% alikeBoth grave.
Phase IV 197472% alikeBoth grave, earnest.
The Asphalt Jungle 195070% alikeBoth grave, earnest.
Good Night, and Good Luck. 200570% alikeBoth grave, earnest, contemplative.
Cat People 198270% alikeBoth grave, earnest.
Out of the Past 194769% alikeBoth grave, earnest.
RIPLEY 202472% alikeTelevision · Both grave, earnest.
Game · Both grave, earnest.
Often watched with
Recommendations from TMDB. Opening one adds it to Tastebuds
